Sports | Thursday, February 7,2013

MMA mania

Mixed martial arts comes of age in Springfield

In an unassuming beige garage on the edge of town, two muscular, tattooed young men circle around and around, punching, kicking and grappling with one another with all the intensity of a dogfight. A l

News | Thursday, January 24,2013

She may be innocent

Battered wife seeks freedom after conviction for abusive husband’s murder

By Patrick Yeagle

In the early morning hours of Dec. 3, 1986, Richard Harshbarger grabbed his .38 caliber revolver and a homemade bat, climbed into his Dodge Rampage truck, and departed from his home in Pana. His young

News | Thursday, January 24,2013

Natural gas fracking is coming to Illinois

Drilling method could raise state revenues. It’s already raising environmental concerns.

By Patrick Yeagle

Illinois is poised to tap into a rich vein of money by allowing an oil and gas drilling method known as “fracking,” but environmental concerns and disagreement over state taxes are keeping

Health & Fitness | Thursday, January 17,2013

Physician, heal thyself

Local doc gets fit so that his patients will, too

By Patrick Yeagle

Lately, Dr. Craig Backs’ patients have been asking him if he’s all right. Backs lost more than 50 pounds over the past few months, but he’s not fighting cancer or some other disease.

News | Thursday, January 17,2013

Attorney General asks for rehearing on crucial gun case

Madigan hopes to reverse concealed carry

By Patrick Yeagle

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan asked a federal court last week to rehear a crucial case dealing with concealed carry of firearms. The court previously struck down Illinois’ ban on concea

News | Thursday, January 10,2013

The Lanphier lion learns to roar

A high school reinvents itself with a big pot of money

By Patrick Yeagle

The halls of Lanphier High School are strangely quiet. About 1,100 students file through the school’s maze of corridors several times each day, bringing the usual sounds of slamming lockers, cha

Culture | Thursday, December 27,2012

When the city becomes a stage

New Year’s party brings safe, affordable all-ages fun

By Patrick Yeagle

For the past 25 years, Springfield’s downtown has become a giant party every New Year’s Eve with First Night Springfield, the first and longest-running event of its kind in Illinois. The p

Remembering | Thursday, December 27,2012

A generous man who enjoyed the art of the deal

CHARLES E. ROBBINS Sept. 18, 1934 – April 30, 2012

By Patrick Yeagle

When a powerful tornado clawed its way through Springfield in 2006, Charles Robbins could have made a fortune selling real estate to homeowners and business owners whose buildings were destroyed. Inst

Remembering | Thursday, December 27,2012

A quiet voice that rang with the power of justice

ETHEL S. GINGOLD Nov. 23, 1918 – July 28, 2012

By Patrick Yeagle

Few people go out of their way to fight someone else’s fight. Even fewer people devote their entire lives to that pursuit. Ethel Gingold of Springfield was one of those people. She died July 28,

News | Thursday, December 20,2012

Firearms, medical pot and gay marriage, oh my!

Illinois could soon change drastically

By Patrick Yeagle

When Illinois lawmakers return to Springfield early next year, they’ll face three issues more divisive than even the ongoing pension battle. But like the pension issue, these battles have